Drop forged and welded brake head



April 15, 1952 l.. L. WHITNEY 2,593,374

DROP FORGED AND WELDED BRAKE.'4

Filed June 8, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 &26

April 15, 1952 L. l.. WHITNEY 2,593,374

DROP FORGED AND WELDED BRAKE HEAD Filed June 8, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 23 23 C/yf 26 -Tm 20 23 WF@ U '.25 1 9 h 22 5 mh# je Z f Lf Z 10 15 ff A Z 5 \jg i 142/ s INI/ENTOR. l w 07622, Magg April 15, 1952 l.. WHITNEY 2,593,374

l ADROP FORGED AND WELDED BRAKE HEAD" Filed June 8, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. ,oeiz MzZ/Zgy BY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 2,593,374 DRor FoRGED AND WELDED BRAKE HEAD Loren L. Whitney, Hammond, Ind., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Ill., a cor--I poration of New Jersey Application June 8, 1948, Serial No. 31,735

8 Claims. (Cl. 18S-236) This invention relates to railway brake equipment and more particularly to a novel brake head and method of fabricating the same.

A general object of the invention is to devise a novel fabricated brake head of economical construction and having greater strength than conventional cast steel heads for resisting the severe stresses of railway service.

Another object of the invention is to devise a novel fabricated brake head composed of a plurality of forged steel segments welded together to form a composite brake head structure of unusual strength.

A more speciiic object of the invention is to devise a brake head, such as above described, comprising a hanger socket and a brake beam socket with the brake head segments welded together between said sockets to form a composite brake head structure.

Still another object of the invention is to devise a novel method of fabricating brake heads by forging segments thereof and welding the segments at approximately the transverse center line of the head.

The `foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following specification and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a fabricated -brake head embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the head;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the head;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the head;

Figures A5 and 6 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 5-5 and 6-'6 of Figure 2;

v Figure '7 is a bottom perspective View of the bottom brake head segment; i

Figure 8 is a plan view of the bottom segment taken from the center surface thereof;

Figure 9 is a top 'perspective view of the top brake head segment; I i

. Figure 10 is a plan view of the top segment taken from the ycenter surface thereof; and

Figures 11 to 21 inclusive, show the steps in a novel process by which the head is fabricated, Figure 11 showing the cut length of steel bar stock for forging the top segment of the brake head, Figure 12 showing the stock after the first forging operation, Figure 13 showing the top segment after the second or final forging operation, Figure 14` showing the flash metal trimmed from the forging shown in Figure 13, and Figure l5 showing the finished top segment. Figure 16 showing the cut length of steel bar stock for forging the bottom segment of the brake` head,

Figure 17 showing the bottom segment after the first forging operation, Figure 18 showing the bottom segment after the second or final forging operation, Figure 19 showing the flash metal trimmed from the forging of Figure 18, Figure 20 showing the finished bottom segment, and Figure 2l showing the finished brake head with the top and bottom segments welded together at approximately the transverse center line of the head.

Describing the invention in detail and referring first to the novel brake head construction shown in Figures 1 to 10 inclusive, the brake head comprises a top segment 2 having spaced substantially vertical lateral webs 4 and having a front wall 6 formed with a bifurcated end or toe lug 8 and an intermediate lug Ill adapted to afford seats for associated brake shoe means (not shown). The lower end of the front wall 6 is integrally formed with a transverse or bottom web I2 having spaced guide ribs I 4 integrally formed therewith and with the wall E to reinforce the connection between the walls 6 and I2 and to aord guide means for a key (not shown) adapted to secure 'associated brake shoe means (not shown) in the usual manner. The web I2 is provided with a relatively thin` segment I'I dening Ia recess between the ribs I 4. The segment I6 is adapted to be punched out to form a keyway or slot, as hereinafter described in connection with fabrication of the brake head.

The lower surface of the web I2 is formedwith an arcuate semi-socket I8 defined at its rear edge by a tapered projection or lug I9 adapted to be welded to a corresponding lug or a lower brake head segment 28, as hereinafter described. Rearwardly of the semi-socket I8, the web I2 isoffset as at 20 and is further offset as at 22 to define a generally rectilinear semi-socket for an associated brake beam part, diagrammatically illustrated at 24 (Figure 2), the brake beam part 24 ibeing afforded a seat against va shoulder 26 `cle-- fined by the offset portions 20 and. 22 of the web. I2. The offset portion 22 of the web I2 is' provided with spaced drill holes 23 to afford reception for suitable securing means, such as rivets (not shown), for the brake beam part 24.

The lower brake head segment, designated 28, is generally similar to the top segment -2 and correspondingparts of the bottom segment 28 are identified by corresponding numerals applied to the top segment 2. with the exception that the transverse web I2 of the bottom segment con-` stitutes the top web thereof in view of the fact 3 that the bottom segment is inverted, as best seen in Figures 2 and 3.

Thus it will be seen that I have devised a novel fabricated brake head wherein top and bottom segments of forged steel are welded together as at 30 (Figures 1 and 2) on substantially the transverse center line of the head between a hanger socket V32 and a brake beam socket 34.' This structure not only provides' an unusually tough and serviceable brake head capable of withstanding the severe usage of railway service con-y ditions but also affords an unusually economicaln construction capable of competing'with conventional cast steel heads froma cost standpoint.

Referring now to Figures 11 to 21 inclusive, which illustrate the process by which the novel brake head is fabricated, a bar of steel stock di) shown in plan View, side elevation, and end view in Figure 11 is rough forged to the config'-VV uration shown at d2 in plan View, side elevation, andend View in Y,Figure 12. This first forging stepsis for the purpose of pre-forming the stock for properdistribution of metal. The forging d2 is then subjected to a second or final forging operationV producing the top half 2 of the brake head, asshovvn in Figure 13, with a flange or forging flash indicated at 4t. The forging 2 is then;` trimmed by a pass in a trimming die therebyt'rimming the iiash metalV 44, as shown in Figure 14, and producing the finished forging 2 shown-inzFigure 15. l

The'vcut barofv stock from which the bottom segment ofthe brake head is forged is shown in planview, side elevation, and end View at 5t in Figure 16; `This bar of-stock is forged to the configuration shown in plan view, side elevation, and -vend view at 52 in Figure 17 for the purpose of pre-forming the stock for*l proper distribution of metal. The forging 52 is then subjected to a second or final forging operation producing the bottombrake head segment 2t with a of fiash'metal indicated at 54 in Figure 18. The flash metal 54 is then trimmed, as shown in Figure 19, by subjecting the forging 3 to a pass through a trimming die producing the finished bottomV brake head segment indicated at 23 in Figure 20.

Figure 21 shows the top and bottom brake head segments 2 and 28 welded together at 3i) to lf'ornfi the structure described in detail in connection with Figures 1 to l0 inclusive.

The holes 23 may be drilled and the webs I6 may be. punched out to form keyways, either beforeor after the welding operation at St, as may'jbe desired, and it will be understood that the holes 23 andthe Webs i6 may be formed 'irrespective of sequence.

Thus it will be understood from a` considerationl of Figures 11 to 2l that I have devised a novel method of fabricating a brake' head structure by independently forging tcp and bottomV segments thereof, 'trimming the forgings, and welding the forgings at substantially the transverse center line ofthe brake head intermediate thev hanger soclcet32y and the Vbrake beam socket 34 thereof to form a finished brake head.

I claim:

l. A fabricated brake head comprising top and bottom forgings each having a front wall with an endilug and an intermediate lug, a transverse webexte'nding rearwardly from said intermediate lug, and-spaced side walls connected to the' transverse vvweb-and to the front wall, spacedribs conne'cfisiiifgi.eachtransversev Wall tothe yrear sur-'- fecel et the `assoc-:fated'front "-wall.' 'a lieywayl through each transverse web intermediate the related ribs, the adjacent surfaces of respective webs being formed with semi-sockets dening a hanger socket, and said webs being offset rearwardly of said socket to denne a brake beam socket, and a Weld connecting said Webs between said sockets.

2. A brake headsegment comprising ai front wall', a transverse webY extending rearwardly therefrom and having an external portion adapted to be welded to a related segment, spaced ribs connectingthe vrear surface of the front wall to the transverse web, and a recess in said web intermediate( said Yribs defined by a relatively thinsection of said1web adapted to be punched out to define akeyway between said ribs.

3. A brake head segment comprising a front wall, a transverse web extending rearwardly therefrom and having an external arcuate projection having a semi-socket and adapted for welding to a projection of an associated segment,

and arecess in saidweb adjacent its juncture, with said Wall and defined by a relatively lthin section. of saidV web adapted to be punchedout to. .form a keyway through said recess.

4. A `bralre head segment comprising a .frontil wall, spaced side walls connectedV thereto, a trans-,s verse web connected to all of said walls,.a` recess z in said web between said side wallsV and'deflned by a portion of said web thinner than the sur-- rounding portion thereof and adapted to be., punched out to form a keyway through said;re V cess, an arcuate semi-socket formed in saidweb; rearwardly ofthe front Wall, and an osetportion 4 in said web defining a generally rectilinear semi.`

socket rearwardly of the first-mentioned semis. socket. g 5. A brakehead segment Vcomprisinga `front wall, a transverse' web extending rearwardly 1 therefrom, said web having atapered portion adapted for welding toa corresponding portion: of a related segment and having a vsemi-socket forwardly of said tapered portion, and another. semi-socket rearwardly of said taperedportion,

and said web having a segment between the front Wall and thev tapered portion thinnerthanxthel surrounding portion of said weband adapted tov be punched out to form a keyway therein.

6.. A brake head comprising top and bottom forgingsV each having a front Wall with'anendf. lug and an intermediate lug and a transverseweb extending rearwardly from the intermediate lug, and a recess in each webadjacentrits intermedi- Y ate lug and defined `oy a relatively thin web'section adapted to be punched out to form a keyway. through the web, and a weld connecting said transverse webs at substantiallythe 'transverses center lineof thebrake head intermediate the ':y wall, :1a. :transverse: .webziffextending rearwardly?.

forward and rear extremities thereof, said trans-. verse-websbeing free at theends thereofremote from said front walls.

'7. A brake head comprising topl and nbottom forgings each having a transverse web and a front wall with 4brake shoe positioning means. lugs on respectivewebs extendingtoward each other, andr a recess in eachweb adjacentits juncture withxitsI front wall` andv defined by a relatively thin .weby

section adapted to-be .punched out to form a key-r.,

way through said recess-and .a weld connecting. said lugs at approximately the .transversecenter line `of the head intermediate the forwardzand rear extremities thereof, said weld extendingfromf one side to the opposite side of said-head.

8. A brake 4head segment `comprising aifront'i therefrom and having an externalarcuate projection having a semi-socket and adapted for welding to a projection of an associatefsegment, and a. relatively thin section in sadiweb adjacent its juncture with said Wall, an'dsigned to be punched out to form a keyway.

LOREN f WHI'INEY. REFERENCES c'lTD Nambe The following references are 01? 4record in the 10 i me of this patent:

uinher Name Date Crone Oct. 22, 1907 Gallagher Nov.. 18, 1913 Crone Nov. 27, 1928 Ford Sept. 10, 1929 Whitworth Sept. 4, 1934 Ekholm Apr. 20, 1937 Budd Feb. 21, 1939 Johnson May 19, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Germany May 23, 1908 

